Qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia remains a rocky road for Lionel Messi and his Argentina side following their 3-0 humbling at the hands of Brazil.

Argentina went into the contest in Belo Horizonte sitting sixth in South American qualifying, outside the qualification places, with goals from Philippe Coutinho, Neymar and Paulinho making their task all the more difficult as they look to turn things around with seven matches remaining.

Their defensive frailties were on display during an opening 45 minutes where Brazil's tricky frontline ran the Argentine back four ragged and punished them with two superbly-taken goals, on a night where Messi was never able to stamp his mark on the contest and Gonzalo Higuain was starved of chances.

Relive all the action as it happened with Sportsmail's TOM FARMERY...

Tom Farmery

Host commentator

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01:41

FT: Brazil 3-0 Argentina

In the end, a comfortable victory for Brazil. Argentina were very poor. They have so much work to do now if they are to qualify for the World Cup. Lionel Messi must be wondering why he bothered coming back out of international retirement. Tonight can't have been much fun. Losing to your rivals is never fun but to lose playing so poorly without any invention has to hurt Messi, a player who prides himself on great ideas and execution. Whether it be Coutinho, Neymar or Paulinho, Brazil had options and they utilised them to full effect. A deserved victory that puts them top of the South American World Cup qualifying group.

78min: The game is essentially over. Roberto Firmino is warming up to come on for Brazil. Neymar has just gone close again. He squeezed past Romero but couldn't thread the ball through the tightest of angles. The Brazil fans are loving this. They're cheering every touch of the ball that a Brazil player makes. It really has been good to watch but Argentina have allowed them to dominate. It really is as simple as that.

Argentina boss Edgardo Bauza cuts a glum figure as he attempts to stop the rot in the second half

01:22

3-0

71min: Di Maria is replaced by Angel Correa of Atletico Madrid.

01:19

3-0

70min: Some will feel sorry for Messi tonight but quite honestly he hasn't been much better than anyone else in a sky blue and white striped shirt. He's had four free-kicks now and all of them have failed to trouble Alisson in the Brazil goal. He's cut a glum and frustrated look since Brazil went 2-0 up. He probably wishes he'd stayed away from international football now. He can't be enjoying it.

Former Tottenham midfielder places his shot past Romero who was left stood still

01:14

Not Messi's night...

To be Lionel Messi... The Argentina man reacts to seeing his side go 3-0 down

01:11

3-0

62min: It just gets worse for Argentina. Otamendi the latest to go into the referee's book. A late challenge on Neymar. Simply unnecessary.

01:07

3-0

59min: Disgraceful defending from Argentina. Renato Augusto found a pocket in the Argentina defence before playing the ball to Paulinho. The former Tottenham man needed to do very little and kept his composure to slot past Romero. This could get so much more worse for Argentina too.

01:05

3-0 Brazil (Paulinho) 59min

01:04

2-0

55min: Not particularly clever from Funes Mori. The defender charged into Neymar right in front of the referee and rightly is awarded with a yellow card.

01:03

2-0

53min: A marvellous chance for Di Maria to pull one back for Argentina. He controlled the ball cleverly on the left side of the Brazil area and found space before pulling the trigger. Side netting.

Lionel Messi remained Argentina's only hope throughout the first half

00:57

2-0

48min: Not the smartest of ideas Marcelo will have ever had. He takes down Messi on the outside of the Brazil area. Thankfully for the full back, Messi blazes wide. Marcelo does, however, receive a booking.

Well... what can you say? All very routine from Brazil. Argentina have offered precious little. Their best chance arrived when Lucas Biglia produced a fine save from Alisson but really the Brazilian keeper hasn't been tested much since. Brazil, however, have looked slick and efficient. Coutinho, Gabriel Jesus and Neymar have linked up brilliantly and it's showed in their play. Argentina do have the ability to create chances but unfortunately their defence is nowhere near good enough to stop Brazil's front three from getting into dangerous positions.

45+1min: Well any talk of seeing thing out until half-time certainly wasn't taken onboard by NEYMAR. The little Brazilian genius scampered down the left leaving Pablo Zabaleta and Nicolas Otamendi sluggishly trailing behind before he slotted underneath Romero. That was also the last kick of the first half.

00:34

2-0 Brazil (Neymar) 45+1

00:33

1-0

43min: Brazil keeping 11 players in their own half, which invites more Argentina pressure. Brazil quite happy to fill the time until half-time. Argentina should be doing more to take advantage.

00:27

1-0

37min: Exactly what Brazil needed. Neymar takes matters into his own hands and drives forward causing the Argentina defenders - particularly Funes Mori and Mas - a lot of trouble. They hate the sight of him tearing down the right side. On this occasion he skipped past both of them, found himself one-on-one with Romero but was denied from a difficult angle as the goalkeeper got down low to make the save.

00:23

1-0

32min: Enzo Perez attempts shoots agonisingly wide of Alisson's goal - on reflection it wasn't as close to the goal as first thought. Brazil need to be careful here, though. Since scoring they've sat back and allowed Argentina to settle in dangerous attacking positions. Time to step it up if they don't want to concede.

00:17

1-0

24min: I was only just saying how good Philippe Coutinho was doing and how well he was playing alongside Neymar and Gabriel Jesus. If anyone doubted his position in this Brazil then it's probably time to give it a rest. COUTINHO controlled the ball on the edge of the Argentina box before turning Manchester City's Nicolas Otamendi and firing into the top left corner past Sergio Romero. It was a beautiful strike but with so much venom too.

Coutinho scores to put Brazil 1-0 up after 24 minutes

Brazil's players celebrate taking the lead against Argentina

00:15

1-0 Brazil (Coutinho) 24min

00:13

0-0

20min: Philippe Coutinho, we know him well in the Premier League. This is, however, one of the first times that Coutinho has become a focal point of the Brazil team. He's been relishing the opportunity to link up with Neymar and Gabriel Jesus all week. He's demonstrating that he can play alongside them and flourish. One of the game's brightest sparks so far.

Philippe Coutinho has lit up the night in Belo Horizonte

00:06

0-0

15min: Messi attempting to get Fernandinho sent off perhaps? The Brazil midfielder went in fairly strongly on the Argentine maestro but it really wasn't that. Fernandinho has to be careful, though. Argentina may not be favourites at the moment but that will change if Brazil are reduced to ten men.

00:02

0-0

12min: Argentina change from 4-4-2 to 4-4-1-1. Messi is tucking in behind Higuain. The Barcelona man is having to drop back in order to start moves. This Argentina side lacks creativity from the centre of the park and Messi has a lot to do to find team-mates Angel Di Maria and Higuain.

Messi and Neymar embrace before the match in Belo Horizonte

23:57

0-0

9min: Getting a bit out of hand in Belo Horizonte. Late tackles flying in, the odd elbow and backing chatting to the referee. The quality of the football, however, has been lacking so far. Brazil beginning to string a few nice moves together.

23:55

0-0

6min: Nasty elbow from Fernandinho on Messi. He caught the Barcelona man square on the chin and referee Julio Bascunan has no choice other than to show him a yellow card.

23:51

0-0

3min: Early chance for Argentina. Lionel Messi with a free-kick just outside the Brazil penalty area (30 yards or so). He waits, starts his run-up and fires straight at the opposition wall. He didn't need to go for glory there.

23:46

Underway in Belo Horizonte...

Neymar warms up ahead of the match

23:25

How they both stand in World Cup qualifying?

Brazil are in a much healthier position than Argentina. They've played ten matches, won six, drawn three and lost one. Twenty-one points out of a possible 30, and second in the qualification table behind Uruguay on 23 points - and who've played a game more. A win for Brazil would take them top of the group.

Argentina have a total of 16 points out of 30 and are outside of the top five. They desperately need a win against their arch rivals tonight.

23:10

Some talking points ahead of kick off at 11.45pm...

Neymar vs Messi.

A tantalising battle and one that could keep things particularly interesting tonight. They play beautifully for Barcelona together but in Belo Horizonte they will go up against each other.

Neymar has enjoyed a superb year of football both domestically and internationally. He won Olympic gold with Brazil in the summer - something he had been so desperate to achieve. He is also fourth in the Brazilian scorer' standings with 49 goals in 73 games - 28 behind the great Pele.

Messi has scored four times in seven games against Brazil and he'll love to add to that tally tonight.

Who will come out on top?

Argentina's Lionel Messi will be looking to add to his tally of goals against Brazil tonight